Nikon Z6 vs Sony A7

The Nikon Z6 and the Sony Alpha A7 are two enthusiast cameras that were announced, respectively,
in August 2018 and October 2013. Both the Z6 and the A7 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with a full frame sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 24.3 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon Z6 and the
Sony Alpha A7? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Nikon Z6 and the Sony A7. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Sony A7 is notably smaller (12 percent) than the Nikon Z6. Moreover, the A7 is markedly lighter (30 percent) than the Z6. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses
in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the Z6 gets 310 shots out of its EN-EL15b battery,
while the A7 can take 340 images on a single charge of its NP-FW50 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, just use the right or left
arrows in the table to switch to the respective camera. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the CAM-parator app and
make your selection from the full list of cameras there.

Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The A7 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 15 percent) than the Z6, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor, but their sensors
differ slightly in size. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 24.3MP, the Z6 offers a slightly higher
resolution than the A7 (24MP), but the Z6 has marginally smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of
5.94μm versus 5.97μm for the A7). However, the Z6 is a much more recent model (by 4 years and 10 months) than the A7, and its sensor
will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels.

The Nikon Z6 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 51200, which can be extended to ISO 50-204800.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A7 are ISO 100 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-51200.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. Of the two cameras under review, the Z6 has a notably higher overall DXO score than the A7 (overall score 5 points higher), which gives it an advantage in terms of imaging quality. This advantage is based on 0.5 bits higher color depth, 0.1 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.6 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Nikon Z6

Full Frame

24.3

6048

4024

4K/30p

25.3

14.3

3299

95

Nikon Z6

Sony A7

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

24.8

14.2

2248

90

Sony A7

Canon 6D Mark II

Full Frame

26.0

6240

4160

1080/60p

24.4

11.9

2862

85

Canon 6D Mark II

Fujifilm X-H1

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

4K/30p

..

..

..

..

Fujifilm X-H1

Nikon Z7

Full Frame

45.4

8256

5504

4K/30p

26.3

14.6

2668

99

Nikon Z7

Nikon D750

Full Frame

24.2

6016

4016

1080/60p

24.8

14.5

2956

93

Nikon D750

Panasonic G9

Four Thirds

20.2

5184

3888

4K/60p

..

..

..

..

Panasonic G9

Panasonic GH5

Four Thirds

20.2

5184

3888

4K/60p

23.9

13.0

807

77

Panasonic GH5

Sony A9 II

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

4K/30p

25.0

14.0

3434

93

Sony A9 II

Sony A7 III

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

4K/30p

25.0

14.7

3730

96

Sony A7 III

Sony A9

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

4K/30p

24.9

13.3

3517

92

Sony A9

Sony A7 II

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

24.9

13.6

2449

90

Sony A7 II

Sony A7S

Full Frame

12.0

4240

2832

1080/60p

23.9

13.2

3702

87

Sony A7S

Sony A7R

Full Frame

36.2

7360

4912

1080/60p

25.6

14.1

2746

95

Sony A7R

Sony RX1R

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

25.0

13.6

2537

91

Sony RX1R

Sony RX1

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

25.1

14.3

2534

93

Sony RX1

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the Z6 provides a higher video resolution than the A7. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Sony is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder.
However, the one in the Z6 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the A7 (3690k vs 2400k dots). The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Nikon Z6, the Sony A7, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Mech Shutter Speed

Shutter Flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Nikon Z6

3690

Y

3.2

2100

tilting

Y

1/8000s

12.0

n

Y

Nikon Z6

Sony A7

2400

n

3.0

1230

tilting

n

1/8000s

5.0

n

n

Sony A7

Canon 6D Mark II

optical

Y

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

1/4000s

6.5

n

n

Canon 6D Mark II

Fujifilm X-H1

3690

Y

3.0

1040

full-flex

Y

1/8000s

14.0

n

Y

Fujifilm X-H1

Nikon Z7

3690

Y

3.2

2100

tilting

Y

1/8000s

9.0

n

Y

Nikon Z7

Nikon D750

optical

Y

3.2

1229

tilting

n

1/4000s

6.0

Y

n

Nikon D750

Panasonic G9

3680

Y

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

1/8000s

20.0

n

Y

Panasonic G9

Panasonic GH5

3680

n

3.2

1620

swivel

Y

1/8000s

12.0

n

Y

Panasonic GH5

Sony A9 II

3686

n

3.0

1440

tilting

Y

1/8000s

10.0

n

Y

Sony A9 II

Sony A7 III

2359

n

3.0

922

tilting

Y

1/8000s

10.0

n

Y

Sony A7 III

Sony A9

3686

n

3.0

1440

tilting

Y

1/8000s

20.0

n

Y

Sony A9

Sony A7 II

2400

n

3.0

1230

tilting

n

1/8000s

5.0

n

Y

Sony A7 II

Sony A7S

2400

n

3.0

921

tilting

n

1/8000s

5.0

n

n

Sony A7S

Sony A7R

2400

n

3.0

1230

tilting

n

1/8000s

4.0

n

n

Sony A7R

Sony RX1R

optional

n

3.0

1229

fixed

n

1/4000s

5.0

Y

n

Sony RX1R

Sony RX1

optional

n

3.0

1229

fixed

n

1/4000s

5.0

Y

n

Sony RX1

One feature that is present on the Z6, but is missing on the A7 is a top-level LCD.
While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The Nikon Z6 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to
capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The Z6 writes its imaging data to XQD cards, while the A7 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon Z6 and Sony Alpha A7 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Port

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Nikon Z6

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.1

Y

-

Y

Nikon Z6

Sony A7

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony A7

Canon 6D Mark II

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon 6D Mark II

Fujifilm X-H1

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

3.0

Y

-

-

Fujifilm X-H1

Nikon Z7

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.1

Y

-

Y

Nikon Z7

Nikon D750

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

mini

2.0

Y

-

-

Nikon D750

Panasonic G9

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

full

3.0

Y

-

Y

Panasonic G9

Panasonic GH5

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

full

3.1

Y

-

Y

Panasonic GH5

Sony A9 II

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.1

Y

Y

Y

Sony A9 II

Sony A7 III

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.1

Y

Y

Y

Sony A7 III

Sony A9

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Sony A9

Sony A7 II

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony A7 II

Sony A7S

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony A7S

Sony A7R

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony A7R

Sony RX1R

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Sony RX1R

Sony RX1

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Sony RX1

The Z6 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Nikon.
In contrast, the A7 has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the A7 was succeeded by the Sony A7 II. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official
Nikon and Sony websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Nikon Z6 better than the Sony A7 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (15 percent cheaper at launch).

More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in October 2013).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the Z6 is the clear winner of the match-up (15 : 5 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges
from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera
is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

Z6 15:05 A7

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon Z6 and the Sony A7 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest
Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the Z6 or the A7 perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge,
reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

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